Stunned by reaction to sheriff's gun raffle

Thursday, May 2, 2013

I was stunned by the reaction by some to the raffle of a perfectly legal firearm by local law enforcement. We read in bold type on the front page of the DLN that the action was crazy, shocking and irresponsible and that Sheriff Bunny Welsh’s action draws ire. What we don’t know is how widespread that ire is nor the qualifications or emotional state of those expressing it. Crazy, shocking and irresponsible may describe them.

Particularly troubling was a comment by someone who felt that the raffle was a good opportunity for law enforcement to gather intelligence on those who desire to own such a weapon. This attitude would have been welcome in the Third Reich and reveals what gun owners fear most ... the intent to register and confiscate firearms in contravention of the Second Amendment.

Comments like “gun violence being the biggest threat to the public safety” show a startling myopia when bombers kill and maim innocents with a contraption made with pressure cookers.

Other comments show an ignorance of the fact that weapons of the type that were raffled off are not involved in most tragic shootings, including the recent one in the Connecticut school.

When the acquisition of a legal firearm by a vetted person via a perfectly legal mechanism from a law enforcement agency attracts such publicity, this tells us that reason has been replaced with ignorance and/or emotion that has no role in how we govern ourselves.

PAUL LINSEN Chadds Ford

A plea to supportersThis is an informative plea to all Oxford residents and all Second Amendment supporters. Chester County has a very well qualified, intelligent, hard working, sheriff. Her name is Carolynn (Bunny) Welch. She along with the sheriffs department is hosting a gun raffle for $20 a ticket available from any sheriffs department deputy. It is a responsible, legal, way to raise funding for training of the various K-9 units the department utilizes.

Bunny also has been sponsoring training classes for “women only” for the safe and legal use of firearms! The classes have been full to capacity. This is an excellent way to promote legal gun safety among women in our communities.

Once again our illustrious Mayor Geoff Henry has stuck his two cents into the mix criticizing Sheriff Welch for her efforts!

Mr. Henry is supposed to be a conservative Republican. His opinion and positions remind me more of the late Arlen Specter ... who was a Democrat at heart but claimed to be a Republican, until it came time for voting. Then he always supported the liberal left!

Which brings me to my point: Mayor Henry is running unopposed in this year’s election. That leaves the Republican Party no options but to support him. Please can’t we do better than a Republican who has constantly spoke out against our Second Amendment rights? Oxford you deserve to be safe, and have the right to conceal and carry legally if you so choose without the overzealous interference from a small town mayor who sides with the left on a consistent basis. Oxfordians you deserve better! I suggest a write-in campaign to oppose this anti-gun small town mayor.

Who will be first step up and run against this liberal? It is time we true Americans stand up for our Second Amendment rights! Well done Sheriff Welch!